Tigers Prospects: Justyn-Henry Malloy’s Promotion and Spencer Torkelson’s Struggles
Sunday evening, Detroit Tigers prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy excitedly announced his promotion to the major leagues on Instagram. His teammates and coaches also took to social media to share in the celebration. This promotion is a significant milestone for Malloy, who boasts an impressive .417 on-base percentage over 838 career plate appearances in Triple A.
As of Sunday night, no official roster moves had been announced. However, the signs are clear that first baseman Spencer Torkelson will likely be optioned to Triple A. Torkelson spent two of the past three games on the bench during the Tigers’ series against the Boston Red Sox. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch’s response when asked about a possible stint in Triple A for Torkelson was rather ambiguous: “I don’t know…We haven’t talked about things like that this morning. We’re trying to find a way to win the game today. That is the No. 1 most important thing.”
Malloy’s promotion, therefore, comes with a disappointing decision regarding Torkelson, who was expected to become a franchise cornerstone. Torkelson has been struggling lately, with a 3-for-37 slump and a season batting average of .201 with a .597 OPS. The Tigers’ decision to potentially demote Torkelson is not solely aimed at helping him regain his form but also about improving the overall performance of the major league team.
Torkelson’s main struggle has been with timing, particularly against fastballs. When facing pitches of 95 mph or higher this season, he has fouled off 20 pitches, whiffed six times, and recorded only four hits on 19 balls in play. Despite some progress in his load and intent, Torkelson’s swing mechanics have remained largely unchanged, and he has been stubborn in adjusting his swing. The Tigers believe that a more meaningful adjustment to his swing may be more likely to happen in the minor leagues.
Turning our attention to Malloy, he has recently received pinch-hit at-bats in two of his past three games in Triple A, possibly as a warm-up for the Tigers’ platoon-oriented style. Malloy was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in December 2022, along with pitcher Jake Higginbotham, in exchange for reliever Joe Jiménez. He is known for his premier plate discipline and currently leads the Tigers’ farm system with 39 walks and 15 doubles. However, Malloy’s outfield defense is considered below average, which may explain why the Tigers have been hesitant to call him up despite his impressive .412 on-base percentage in Triple A. He is currently hitting .255 with six home runs.
One concern surrounding Malloy is his high strikeout rate, as he whiffs on 30.4 percent of his swings. There are concerns that major league pitchers will be able to exploit this weakness even more. How well he handles elite pitching and whether he can avoid in-zone whiffs will be crucial factors to watch.
In Torkelson’s absence, the Tigers have several options to fill the first base position. They can mix and match players like Mark Canha, Gio Urshela, Matt Vierling, and Andy Ibáñez. Malloy is expected to see plenty of at-bats as the designated hitter but will also need to prove himself in the outfield corners when he plays in the field.
Before Malloy can be called up, the Tigers will need to clear room on their 40-man roster. One possibility is moving outfielder Kerry Carpenter to the 60-day injured list. Carpenter recently went on the IL due to a lumbar spine stress fracture, and the timeline for his recovery is uncertain. Carpenter’s absence not only creates a void in the lineup but also highlights his value to the team. Over the past calendar year, Carpenter has an impressive .914 OPS against right-handed pitchers, ranking 17th among all MLB hitters.
In conclusion, the promotion of Justyn-Henry Malloy to the major leagues signifies an exciting moment for the young prospect. However, it also reflects the struggles of Spencer Torkelson, who may be demoted to Triple A to work on his swing mechanics. The Tigers will be closely monitoring Malloy’s performance, particularly his ability to handle elite pitching and improve his defense in the outfield corners. The potential move also raises questions about who will fill the first base position in Torkelson’s absence, with players like Canha, Urshela, Vierling, and Ibáñez in contention. Clearing a spot on the roster for Malloy may involve moving Carpenter to the injured list, which underscores his value as a hitter against right-handed pitchers.